Locking rotatable handrail for stairs

Abstract

A handrail assembly comprising a top bracket and a handrail pivotally connected to the top bracket. The handrail is movable relative to the top bracket between a stowed position and a deployed position. The handrail is able to be locked in position. The handrail can move between the stowed position and the deployed position when the handrail is not locked in position, but held in the stowed position or the deployed position when the handrail is not locked in position. The handrail cannot move between the stowed position and the deployed position when the handrail is locked in position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A handrail assembly comprising:
 a top bracket; 
 a bottom bracket; and 
 a handrail connected to the top bracket and the bottom bracket; 
 the handrail being movable relative to the top bracket and the bottom bracket between a stowed position and a deployed position; 
 the handrail being able to be locked in position; 
 wherein the handrail can move between the stowed position and the deployed position when the handrail is not locked in position, but held in the stowed position or the deployed position when the handrail is not locked in position; and 
 wherein the handrail cannot move between the stowed position and the deployed position when the handrail is locked in position. 
 
     
     
       2. The handrail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the handrail is biased into the deployed position and the stowed position when the handrail is not locked in position to hold the handrail in the stowed position or the deployed position. 
 
     
     
       3. The handrail assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a spring biases the handrail into the deployed position and the stowed position. 
 
     
     
       4. The handrail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 one or both of the top bracket and the bottom bracket includes a first slot for receiving the handrail into the deployed position and at least one second slot for receiving the handrail into the stowed position, the first slot being substantially perpendicular to the at least one second slot. 
 
     
     
       5. The handrail assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 a spring biases the handrail into the first slot or the at least one second slot. 
 
     
     
       6. The handrail assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a pivot pin extends from the handrail and into at least one of the top bracket and the bottom bracket; and 
 the spring biases the pivot pin into the at least one of the top bracket and the bottom bracket. 
 
     
     
       7. The handrail assembly of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a lock assembly engages with the pivot pin to prevent movement of the pivot pin relative to the at least one of the top bracket and the bottom bracket when the handrail is locked in position to prevent movement of the handrail; and 
 the lock assembly does not engage with the pivot pin to allow movement of the pivot pin relative to the at least one of the top bracket and the bottom bracket when the handrail is not locked in position to thereby allow movement of the handrail. 
 
     
     
       8. The handrail assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the lock assembly includes a lock cylinder configured to accept a key therein for moving the lock assembly between a locked condition wherein the lock assembly engages with the pivot pin and an unlocked condition wherein the lock assembly does not engage with the pivot pin. 
 
     
     
       9. The handrail assembly of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the lock assembly includes a lock cylinder, a lock bolt that engages with the pivot pin and a clutch assembly that transmits movement of the lock cylinder to the lock bolt to move the lock bolt into a locked condition wherein the lock bolt engages with the pivot pin and an unlocked condition wherein the lock bolt does not engage with the pivot pin. 
 
     
     
       10. A handrail assembly comprising:
 a top bracket; 
 a handrail pivotally connected to the top bracket; 
 the handrail being movable relative to the top bracket between a stowed position and a deployed position, the stowed position being substantially perpendicular relative to the deployed position; 
 the handrail being able to be locked in position; 
 wherein the handrail can move between the stowed position and the deployed position when the handrail is not locked in position, but biased and held in the stowed position or the deployed position when the handrail is not locked in position; and 
 wherein the handrail cannot move between the stowed position and the deployed position when the handrail is locked in position. 
 
     
     
       11. The handrail assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a spring biases the handrail into the deployed position and the stowed position. 
 
     
     
       12. The handrail assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the top bracket includes a first slot for receiving the handrail into the deployed position and at least one second slot for receiving the handrail into the stowed position, the first slot being substantially perpendicular to the at least one second slot. 
 
     
     
       13. The handrail assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 a spring biases the handrail into the first slot or the at least one second slot. 
 
     
     
       14. The handrail assembly of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a pivot pin extends from the handrail and into the top bracket; and 
 the spring biases the pivot pin into the top bracket. 
 
     
     
       15. The handrail assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a lock assembly engages with the pivot pin to prevent movement of the pivot pin relative to the top bracket when the handrail is locked in position to prevent movement of the handrail; and 
 the lock assembly does not engage with the pivot pin to allow movement of the pivot pin relative to the top bracket when the handrail is not locked in position to thereby allow movement of the handrail. 
 
     
     
       16. The handrail assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the lock assembly includes a lock cylinder configured to accept a key therein for moving the lock assembly between a locked condition wherein the lock assembly engages with the pivot pin and an unlocked condition wherein the lock assembly does not engage with the pivot pin. 
 
     
     
       17. The handrail assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the lock assembly includes a lock cylinder, a lock bolt that engages with the pivot pin and a clutch assembly that transmits movement of the lock cylinder to the lock bolt to move the lock bolt into a locked condition wherein the lock bolt engages with the pivot pin and an unlocked condition wherein the lock bolt does not engage with the pivot pin. 
 
     
     
       18. A recreational vehicle comprising:
 a side wall of the vehicle; 
 a door located in the side wall of the vehicle; and 
 a handrail assembly connected to the side wall adjacent the door, the handrail assembly comprising a top bracket connected to the side wall, a bottom bracket connected to the side wall, and a handrail connected to the top bracket and the bottom bracket; 
 the handrail being movable relative to the top bracket and the bottom bracket between a stowed position and a deployed position; 
 the handrail being able to be locked in the stowed position or the deployed position; 
 wherein the handrail can move between the stowed position and the deployed position when the handrail is not locked in position, but held in the stowed position or the deployed position when the handrail is not locked in position; and 
 wherein the handrail cannot move between the stowed position and the deployed position when the handrail is locked in position. 
 
     
     
       19. The recreational vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the handrail is biased by a spring into the deployed position and the stowed position when the handrail is not locked in position to hold the handrail in the stowed position or the deployed position; and 
 one or both of the top bracket and the bottom bracket includes a first slot for receiving the handrail into the deployed position and at least one second slot for receiving the handrail into the stowed position, the first slot being substantially perpendicular to the at least one second slot. 
 
     
     
       20. The recreational vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein:
 a lock assembly engages with a pivot pin connected to the handrail to prevent movement of the pivot pin relative to the at least one of the top bracket and the bottom bracket when the handrail is locked in position to prevent movement of the handrail; and 
 the lock assembly does not engage with the pivot pin to allow movement of the pivot pin relative to the at least one of the top bracket and the bottom bracket when the handrail is not locked in position to thereby allow movement of the handrail. 
 
     
     
       21. The recreational vehicle of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the lock assembly includes a lock cylinder, a lock bolt that engages with the pivot pin and a clutch assembly that transmits movement of the lock cylinder to the lock bolt to move the lock bolt into a locked condition wherein the lock bolt engages with the pivot pin and an unlocked condition wherein the lock bolt does not engage with the pivot pin.